“WALK WITH ME” is 1da Banton’s invitation to a journey at the heart of Afrobeats, celebrating the vibrant genre and culture born and popularized in Nigeria in the 2000s, that has revolutionised African and global music landscapes over the last two decades. The EP is fully produced by 1da Banton partnering with his team, showcasing their own interpretation of Afrobeats.
With this 6-track EP, 1da Banton immerses us in the genre’s original musical tones, deeply rooted in the heritage of African rhythms and traditional styles, fused with contemporary Black music sounds. Through this new project, 1da Banton channels the signature feel-good and optimistic vibe characteristic of Afrobeats fashion, blending it with moments of inspiration and introspection.
Showcasing 1da Banton’s artistry as a talent from the multi-faceted cultural mosaic of Port Harcourt City – Rivers State, Nigeria, “WALK WITH ME” navigates through the layered influence of styles that have shaped Afrobeats – such as West African highlife, the iconic “Ariaria” drum patterns of Eastern Nigeria, the Cameroonian Makossa and Congolese Soukous rhythms, and the legendary Afrobeat pioneered by Fela Kuti. The project seamlessly blends Afro-tropical, dancehall, and reggaeton, illustrating 1da Banton’s ability to bridge cultures while staying true to his roots.
“WALK WITH ME” TRACKLIST
⦁ INTRO – WALK WITH ME
⦁ BETTER DAYS
⦁ AVAILABLE
⦁ BABY OKU (feat. Fiokee)
⦁ ILEBOGUS (feat. MASIDI) FOCUS TRACK
⦁ SHINE SHINE THING
ABOUT 1DA BANTON
Born in Nigeria, 1da Banton’s musical blend draws from reggae, dancehall, afrobeat, and traditional sounds inspired by his hometown, Port Harcourt – a known hub for talents like Burna Boy, Omah Lay, Mr Eazi, and many more. His breakout hit, “No Wahala” released in 2021 has garnered close to 200M streams on Spotify alone, solidifying its place among the most-streamed Afrobeat tracks on the platform, charted in 26 countries on the Apple Music Top 100, peaked #2 on the Shazam Global Chart, #3 on the Official UK Afrobeats Chart and Top 10 Songs in Nigeria.
The Nigerian “Wonderboy” (his nickname from his football days, 1da is short for “Wonder”) has already received a number of awards and nominations for his work, including an Artist of the Year at the 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards and a prestigious Grammy nomination in 2023 as a producer/songwriter for his work on Davido’s Timeless album (“Na Money” feat. Angélique Kidjo & The Cavemen and “No Competition” feat. Asake).
Maintaining strong connections with African artists, notably collaborations with Davido, Tiwa Savage, Kizz Daniel, Stonebwoy, Seyi Shay and many others, 1da Banton’s musical journey – from his debut EP The Banton and the hit album Original Vibe Machine to December release “Gbadun” – has been marked by global performances, including alongside Wizkid for his Paris arena show in 2022 and a 2022 European tour with stops in France, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.
